Protective composition for razor blades



Patented July 29, 1952 PROTECTIVE COMPOSITION FOR RAZOR BLADES Lowell Christian, Jr., Indianapolis, Ind.

No. Drawing. Application July 30, 1949, Serialv No. 107,826-

2 Claims- (Cl. 10614) The present invention relates to a protective composition intended to be applied to the cutting edges of razor blades and is concerned primarily with the make-up of the composition itself, together with the method of preparing the same.

At the present time razor blades of various types and makes are widely used for shaving purposes. As a general rule, a razor blade is ordinarily useable foronly one good shave. It is true many shavers employ various typesof makeshift devices for the purpose of getting additional shaves out of a blade, and there have been. proposed certain types of mechanisms for sharpenin razor blades after use. However, in spite of these practices and mechanisms, the fact remains that, as a general rule, the modern razor blade has in it only one good shave.

The reason for this condition is that the cutting edge of the modern razor blade, when placed under a microscope, will exhibit a fine ragged edge. After the first use of this blade, this edge is exposed to the atmosphere and even if it is wiped clean and dried after this first usage, rust will develop along this fine edge and thereby impair its cutting qualities.

With the foregoing conditions 'in mind, the present invention has in view as its foremost objective the provision of a protective composition which may be applied to the cutting edge of a razor blade after use and which composition will .have the ability to protect the cutting edge from the development of rust and other factors which will impair its cuttin qualities and which may be removed from the blade when it is to be used.

With the novel composition of the present invention, a new razor blade is used for the first time in the usual way. Immediately after this usage, it is washed clean and thoroughly dried. The novel composition of this invention is. then applied to the cutting edge after which the razor blade is put away until its use is again required. At that time the protective composition is removed and the cutting edge is found to exhibit better cutting qualities than it did on the first shave. It is believed that this latter feature may be attributed to the fact that the composition includes a mild abrasive that is rendered effective on the edge when the composition is removed. It has been found that a modern razor blade is good for a number of shaves ranging from twenty to fifty when the composition is used in this manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective composition of the character indicated which includes axle. grease as its main ingredient. Axle grease is a material which is now available on the market as such. It consists essentially of an emulsion of sodium soap, free fat and mineral oil in water, with the latter content ranging up to fifty percent. It has been found that the present composition may be made from any of the axle greases of the type above indicated which are commonly available on the market as such.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a protective composition which consists essentially of axle grease, polishing rouge and powdered graphite.

While the exact proportions in which these ingredients are included in the composition are susceptible of some variation, the invention has particularly in mind the provision of a protective composition of the character indicated which is characterized of being made up of twenty parts of axle grease, one-fifth of one part of polishing rouge and one part of powdered graphite.

Another highly important object of the invention lies in the provision of a method of preparing a composition including the ingredients above identified. This method consists essentially of placing all the ingredients in a container and heating slowly so as to melt the axle grease and yet maintain the temperature below the boiling point of theaxle grease. As the axle grease is melted, stirring is carried out to cause a thorough intermingling of the polishing rouge and the powdered graphite throughout the axle grease so that upon subsequent cooling, the ultimate product will have a uniform, homogeneous body.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent and in part will be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a protective composition for razor blades which consists essentially of axle grease, polishing rouge and powdered graphite, together with the method of preparing this composition.

For a full and more complete understandingof the invention, reference may be had to the following description setting forth the permissible ranges in the proportions of the various ingredients, a specific embodiment of the composition and the steps and method of preparing the same.

As above indicated, axle grease is the main ingredient used in the preparation of the protective composition of this invention. The petroleum industry now recognizes two broad classes of axle grease, one known as the engine axle greases and the other as the tub axle greases. In accordance with the present invention, an engine axle grease is employed as the main ingredient.

Engine axle grease consists essentially of a water emulsion of sodium soap, free fat and mineral oil. Axle greases of this general nature are produced by various manufacturers and are available on the market as such. The present invention is not concerned with the particular make-up of the axle grease itself. The proportions of the several ingredients, as well as the water, will vary with different manufacturers and with the different formulas used in producing the axle grease. However, it has been found that any of the engine axle greases, commonly available on the market as such, is adapted for use as the main ingredient of the present composition.

The exact proportions of ingredients which enter into this composition are susceptible of some variation.- The following table indicates the permissible extent of this variation:

Axle greaseseventeen to twenty-three parts Polishing rouge-one-tenth to one-half part Powdered graphite-one-half to three parts A preferred specific embodiment of the invention is represented by the following example:

Axle greasetwenty parts Polishing rouge-one-fifth of one part Powdered graphite-one part In preparing the composition, the several ingredients are placed in a container and heat is applied slowly. This heat should be applied until the axle grease is thoroughly melted, but caution mustbe exercised to make sure that the boiling point of the axle grease is not reached. Thus, the temperature range for carrying out the present method is from the melting point of the axle grease to a point appreciatively below the boiling point thereof.

As the heat is applied to the container, the ingredients are stirred so as to thoroughly intermingle the various ingredients, thus the polishing rouge and the powdered graphite are uniformly distributed throughout the axle grease to provide a homogeneous body in the mixture.

After this heating and stirring, the mixture is poured into another container wherein it is permitted to cool whereupon it is ready for use. In this condition the prepared composition will have about the same body consistency as the original axle grease.

The protective composition of this invention is used in the following manner:

(a) A new razor blade is used for the first time in the usual manner.

(1)) After this usage, the razor blade is washed and thoroughly dried.

(c) A coating of the protective composition of this invention is then applied over the cutting 4 edge. Care must be exercised to be sure that the edge is completely covered by the composition.

(d) When the use of the blade is required for the next shave, the composition is removed.

From actual experience it has been found that the razor blade was in better condition for the second use than it was for the first use. This desirable condition may be attributed to the fact that the fine cutting edge is thoroughly protected from the formation of rust and other corrosive efiects and also to the presence of the polishing rouge which is a mild abrasive. The application and removal of the composition causes this mild abrasive to improve the cutting qualities of the edge. a

The protective composition may be applied to the cutting edges of the razor blade in any preferred manner although the invention has particularly in mind the use of a small brush which may be sold with a jar of the composition and to which jar the brush may be secured for the purpose of convenience and to prevent its being lost or misplaced.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact ingredients, proportions and steps illustrated and described because various modifications and details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A protective composition for razor blades consisting essentially of axle grease in a proportion ranging from seventeen to twenty-three parts, polishing rouge in a proportion ranging from one-tenth to one-half of one part, and powdered graphite in proportion ranging from onehalf of one part to three parts.

2. A protective composition for razor blades consisting essentially of a compound represented by the following formula:

Axle greasetwenty parts Polishing rougeone-fifth of one part Powdered graphite-one part LOWELL CHRIS'I'IAN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 621,057 Frost Mar. 14, 1899 1,003,983 Callahan Sept. 26, 1911 1,586,087 Howe et al. May 25, 1926 OTHER REFERENCES Klemgard: Lubricating Greases, Reinhold Pub; Corp., N. Y. C., p. 356.

Gregory: The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 3d ed., Reinhold Pub. Corp, N. Y. C., p. 553. 

1. A PROTECTIVE COMPOSITION FOR RAZOR BLADES CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AXLE GREASE IN A PROPORTION RANGING FROM SEVENTEEN TO TWENTY-THREE PARTS, POLISHING ROUGE IN A PROPORTION RANGING FROM ONE-TENTH TO ONE-HALF OF ONE PART, AND POWDERED GRAPHITE IN PROPORTION RANGING FROM ONEHALF OF ONE PART TO THREE PARTS. 